Follow a better diet for improved mental health: Mania risk increases when you consume a lot of processed meats

The food you eat not only affects your physical health, but also your mental health. A new study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry reports that eating cured and processed meats, particularly those that contain nitrates, can dramatically increase your risk of mania. Mania is an abnormal state of mood characterized by hyperactivity, euphoria, and insomnia.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicinelooked at the demographic, health, and dietary data of more than 1,000 people aged between 18 and 65 with and without psychiatric disorders. The researchers analyzed their records starting from 2007 to 2017. Based on their analysis, those who were hospitalized for mania were at least 3.5 times more likely to have eaten foods that contain nitrates, such as beef jerky, hot dogs, salami, and other cured and processed meats, compared to people without psychiatric disorders before hospitalization.

To learn more about the relationship between nitrates and mania risk, the researchers conducted a study looking at how nitrates affect mice. They had two groups of mice: one was fed with typical mice food, while the other received a mix of standard mice food and nitrate-prepared beef jerky. After two weeks, the mice that ate beef jerky exhibited irregular sleeping patterns and hyperactivity.

The same results appeared when the researchers repeated the same experiment using a type of dried beef that did not contain nitrates and a dried beef that contained nitrates. The researchers also assessed the mice’ gut bacteria and found that those that consumed nitrates had different bacterial patterns in their intestines. In addition, they had differences in several molecular brain pathways associated with bipolar disorder.

The researchers say that their findings contribute to the evidence that certain foods and potentially amounts and types of gut bacteria play a role in the onset of mania and other conditions that affect the brain. In conclusion, they say that people who eat cured and processed meats and other foods containing nitrates are more likely to develop mania.

Another reason not to eat processed meat: It causes cancer

For the IARC report published in The Lancet Oncology, 22 experts from 10 countries looked at more than 800 studies. They discovered that consuming 50 grams (g) of processed meat – about four strips of bacon or one hot dog – every day resulted in an 18 percent greater risk of colorectal cancer. This would increase the average lifetime colon cancer risk to nearly six percent. For red meat, they saw an increased risk of colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancers.

Experts recommend following a diet that limits processed meat and red meat, and that is rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Instead of consuming red meat and processed meat, experts recommend eating fish, poultry, or beans. Having a healthy lifestyle, such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol consumption, can help cut the risk of developing various types of cancer.

Read more news stories and studies on unhealthy and toxic foods by going to Food.news.